Alberto Muraglia clocks in for work in his underpants before allegedly heading back to his bed

Muraglia, who was supposed to monitor parking at the local market, has become a symbol for widespread absenteeism among the Italian bureaucratic class, after video showed him stamping his card then going back to bed.

The policeman defended himself claiming that: ‘it was necessary to save time for the removal of vehicles which were obstructing the market stalls’.

He told La Repubblica: ‘In all my career I only clocked in in my underwear on six occasion, on weekends or holidays when the market was closed.

‘My lodgings where I live with my family, my office, and the stamp where I clock in are all in the same building.’

On some occasions the paunchy policeman didn’t even bother to get up and sent his wife or daughter instead.

But he claims that on those occasions he was always present but ‘was delayed finishing off administrative duties’.